Catalonia (Spain) has a significant potential of biogas production from agricultural activities and municipal waste. In addition, there are plenty of industrial cogeneration plants, but most of them use conventional fuels, such as natural gas, and conventional energy conversion devices, such as internal combustion engines. Molten carbonate fuel cells are ultraclean and highly efficient power generator devices capable of converting biogas into electricity and heat. Located in Lleida (Catalonia), Nufri is a fruit processing company with a long tradition on biogas production and cogeneration, with an installed capacity bigger than 45 MW. This study analyzes the economic viability of a fuel cell operating on biogas in Spain, on a real case basis (Nufri). Different fuel cell capacities are analyzed (from 300 kW to 1200 kW). A parametric study of different fuel cell prices ($/kW installed) is performed. Additional biogas cleanup requirements are taken into account. The results are based on the Spanish legislation, which establishes a special legal framework that grants favorable, technology-dependent feed-in premiums for renewable energy and cogeneration. Results show that the payback period ranges from 5 years to 8 years depending on the fuel cell capacity and installation price.
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October 2010
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
Economic Viability of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Working With Biogas
Albert Castell,
Albert Castell
GREA Innovació Concurrent,
University of Lleida
, s/n Lleida 25001, Spain
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Pere Margalef,
Pere Margalef
National Fuel Cell Research Centre,
University of California
, Irvine, CA 92697
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Marc Medrano,
Marc Medrano
GREA Innovació Concurrent,
University of Lleida
, s/n Lleida 25001, Spain
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Luisa F. Cabeza,
Luisa F. Cabeza
GREA Innovació Concurrent,
University of Lleida
, s/n Lleida 25001, Spain
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Scott Samuelsen
Scott Samuelsen
National Fuel Cell Research Centre,
University of California
, Irvine, CA 92697
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Albert Castell
GREA Innovació Concurrent,
University of Lleida
, s/n Lleida 25001, Spain
Pere Margalef
National Fuel Cell Research Centre,
University of California
, Irvine, CA 92697
Marc Medrano
GREA Innovació Concurrent,
University of Lleida
, s/n Lleida 25001, Spain
Luisa F. Cabeza
GREA Innovació Concurrent,
University of Lleida
, s/n Lleida 25001, Spain
Scott Samuelsen
National Fuel Cell Research Centre,
University of California
, Irvine, CA 92697J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Oct 2010, 7(5): 051005 (7 pages)
Published Online: July 14, 2010
Article history
Received:
December 19, 2008
Revised:
November 13, 2009
Online:
July 14, 2010
Published:
July 14, 2010
Citation
Castell, A., Margalef, P., Medrano, M., Cabeza, L. F., and Samuelsen, S. (July 14, 2010). "Economic Viability of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Working With Biogas." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. October 2010; 7(5): 051005. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4000999
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